Hello, everyone. I'm Watamushi from Japan. I've been around another forum, so some of you must have seen me.I had difficulty to register, but with a help from bringahorseinhere?, here I can introduce myself to all. I'm really glad to finally be here.

I'm a new fan, and started to love the Beach Boys in December, 2015. My favorite albums are Friends, Sunflower, Love You and Brian Wilson.

Other favorite musicians of mine: The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Carpenters, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Simon and Garfunkel.

I'm looking forward to have great discussions here -And I have some ideas for threads:Discuss every BB song threadBattle of the SongsLove You Re-Appreciation

It has only been three years since I started to learn English, so my English grammar and words are often wrong. If you're not sure what I mean on my posts, please let me know. That'd help me a lot.

Three years----I dread to think how long it would take me to learn Japanese!

Bad analogy. Japanese is obviously tougher language than English. I can imagine people studying English 3 years & talking/ writing more or less decently. Like the OP. We understand what he says but he does do mistakes.I often say the best way to know language perfectly is to live in the said country at least 5 years, talking with locales in real time, in various situations - shopping, hairdresser, veterinarian, railway station etc.

Well, you're probably right. It's been said that Japanese is one of the most difficult language to those whose mother language is English. I also agree with 'the best way to know language perfectly' you said. Maybe I have to live in the us more than five years to improve my English

Interesting - I figured foreigners study standard English which is British English. F.ex. I'm still used to British way of saying words, like everybody as [evribodi], not [evribari], if you can read transcription. & I prefer many British words to American - say, block of flats, lorry, chap. With exception candy instead of sweet, cookie instead of biscuit & few others. Anyhoo, maybe AmE is similar to Japanese in some way?

Well, the English taught commonly at Japanese schools is American English. Plus, The US is more familiar to Japanese and has much tighter connection with Japan than the UK. Therefore American English is the standard in Japan.

& I prefer many British words to American - say, block of flats, lorry, chap. With exception candy instead of sweet, cookie instead of biscuit & few others.

I've always thought of British English as more quaint, and sophisticated, than American English.Remember as an 8 year old hearing the Beatles' "You Won't See Me" for the first time, and being fascinated by the first line, "When I call you up, your line's engaged." So much nicer than "When I call you up your phone is busy"!

Also, we had some fun at work when a new faculty member from London said that he had to get his suitcase out of his boot.

Anyway, Watamushi, I salute you for tackling the English language and all the crazy rules or non-rules that we have. Like how to pronounce "through", "though", "thought", or "tough".

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"No White Flags." - Team Gleason

"(Brian) got into this really touching music with songs like 'In My Room', and 'Good Vibrations' was amazing. The melodies are so beautiful, almost perfect. I began to realize he was one of the most gifted writers of our generation." - Paul Simon

That's a quote from a very famous American baseball player, Yogi Berra (the cartoon character Yogi Bear was named after him). He was known for his sayings.A fork in the road means that one road splits in two - you can go one direction or the other. In giving directions one would usually say, "when you get to the fork in the road, go to the left road". So when he said when you get to the fork in the road, take it, which way should you go?

I see it as an adventure whichever way I go.The poet Robert Frost said it a lot better than I could, in his poem, "The Road Not Taken." It's a short poem and you should be able to find it online.

"Two roads diverged into a wood, and I/I took the one less traveled by/And that has made all the difference."

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"No White Flags." - Team Gleason

"(Brian) got into this really touching music with songs like 'In My Room', and 'Good Vibrations' was amazing. The melodies are so beautiful, almost perfect. I began to realize he was one of the most gifted writers of our generation." - Paul Simon

Yes, I love baseball for the reason many Americans don't like it - it does not have a time clock, and it can get really slow at times. I find sports such as basketball and hockey too fast.It's great to go to a baseball game and get a chance to carry on conversations as the game goes on. I also get a scorecard so that I can keep track of pitch counts, how well the batters are doing, etc. with my old computer I actually had made my own scorecard (using the Excel spreadsheet program) and printed it on long paper.I also love how old timers argue about guys who were playing 100 years ago. History is very important in the game.

As this is a Hi from Japan, have been interested in how baseball became so popular in Japan. I'm reading a book, "Banzai Babe Ruth", about when a group of star baseball players went on tour in Japan in 1934, and hopefully that book will explain how baseball became so popular.

(Along those lines, have always been curious as how, with groups such as The Beatles, Stones, etc. around, The Beach Boys became so popular in the U.K.)

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"No White Flags." - Team Gleason

"(Brian) got into this really touching music with songs like 'In My Room', and 'Good Vibrations' was amazing. The melodies are so beautiful, almost perfect. I began to realize he was one of the most gifted writers of our generation." - Paul Simon

I was born in Japan but raised in the States, and I never grew up learning Japanese. So the only bit I know is from high school Japanese classes, which I have mostly forgotten. Am I right in my wording?

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"We are pushed to the wall as the heap fills the room to its limits. The window breaks. The house bursts. A heartbreakingly fine Scotch plaid passes before our eyes. Pinstripes carry us into Manhasset Bay."